Folding display stand or case.



J. WRENN. FOLDING DISPLAY STAND OR-CASE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 7, 1909.

. 975,096; Patented NOV.8,1910.

lllfwu q gkifl 3 14 J w a 12 10 E295 w- 9 E MANLEFF J. WRENN, OF HIGHPOINT, NORTH CAROLINA.

FOLDING DISPLAY STAND 0R CASE.

Specification of Letters Batent.

Application filed December 7, 1909. Serial No. 531,822.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MANLEFF J. WRENN, a citizen of the United States,residing at High Point, in the county of Guilford and State of NorthCarolina, have invented a new and useful Folding Display Stand or Case,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding bookcases.

The principal object of the invention 1s to provide a structure of theclass described, 1n which a slidable and detachable shelf forms thelocking means for the case, when the same is in its normal position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bookcase which can beexpeditiously folded and unfolded, and when in the former position willoccupy but little space.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a bookcase of thecharacter described, which is extremely simple in construction, is wellbraced and is therefore strong and durable, and is cheap to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claimshere to appended; it being understood that various changes in the form,proportion, size, and minor details of construction, within the scope ofthe claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of the case showing theshelf extended. Fig. 2 is a transverse view showing the bookcase in afolded relation, the slidable shelf being detached therefrom. Fig. 3 isa vertical sectional view through the front of the case, and Fig. 4 is atrans verse sectional view showing the shelf in its locked position.

Like reference numerals designate corre sponding parts in all thefigures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, the invention comprises spaced top and bottomshelves 55, and intermediate thereof is arranged a pair of spacedshelves, 5 and 5 The number of shelves is optional with the manu:facturer. Front and rear standards 6 and 7 are respectively pivoted tothe ends 8 of the shelves by screws 9 or other suitable means.Respectively arranged between the rear standards 77 and the shelves 5are a plurality of strips 10 which not only brace the said standards,but form a back for the case. A strip 11 is secured to the rear edges1212 of the rear standards 77 by nails or other suitable means, and isarranged between the intermediate pair of shelves, and preferablyextends up to the upper shelf 5*. This strip 11 is adapted to brace thecase, and prevent lateral movement or spreading of the said rearstandards.

A transverse partition 13 is connected to the shelf 5 by suitable hinges1414, and in such a manner that the said partition can swing toward theright-hand standards. This partition extends up to the next adjacentshelf 5 and is preferably centrally arranged therebetween. A transversestrip or abutment 15 is secured to the underside of the shelf 5 forpreventing rearward movement of the said partition. A longitudinalgroove 16 is formed in the upper corner of the partition opposite thesaid strip 15, and

corresponding and alined grooves 1717 are formed in the inner sides ofthe front and rear right-hand standards. Slidably mounted within thesegrooves, is a shelf 18 which extends the entire width of the said shelf5*, the rear end 19 of the shelf abutting against the rear strip 11, andthereby limiting the rearward movement of the said shelf. A knob 20 ofsuitable construction, is secured to the front edge of the slidableshelf. This shelf can be drawn out as shown in Fig. 1 of I the drawing,and may be used for writing upon, or for other purposes.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that when it is desirous offolding the case, the shelf 18 is entirely withdrawn, and the partitionis then folded down on the shelf 5. The case can then be readily foldedto the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

WVhen it is desired, however, to set up the case, the same is firstunfolded and then the partition 13 is lifted to the position shown inFig. 3 of the drawing. The partition, in this position, will of courseprevent the bookcase from becoming accidentally folded, but to insurethe partition maintaining this position, the shelf 18 is inserted withinthe grooves 16 and 17, thereby holding the partition against theabutment. Thus it will be seen that the shelf not only performs thefunction of a shelf, but also serves as a lock- Patented Nov. 8, 1910.

ing means for the bookcase. While the shelf has been shown and describedas being on the right-hand side of the bookcase, it will be apparentthat the same may be employed on the other side, or in the center ifdesired,

without departing from the spirit of the While the invention has beenreferred to i as a folding bookcase, it Will be understood that it canbe used for general display purposes,

What I claim is 1;. A folding case comprising spaced shelves, standardsfor supporting the shelves and to which they are severally pivoted, a

, transverse partition hinged to one of the shelves at an intermediatepoint and directly engaging the next adjacent shelf for retaining thecase in its unfolded relation, and

means for locking the said partition in such 7 acent thereto forretaining the case in its unfolded relation, and a slidable shelfeoacting with the partition and the contiguous standard for locking thesaid partition in its operative position.

L 3. A folding case comprising, spaced shelves, standards pivoted to theshelves, the standards at one side being provided on their inner sideswith alined grooves, a transverse partition arranged bet-ween a pair ofthe shelves and hingedto the bottom one of the said pair, said partitionhaving a longitudinal groove formed therein which corresponds with thegrooves in the standards, an abutment for the partition secured to theupper shelf of the said pair, and a slidable and detachable shelfcarried by the said grooves for locking the partition in its operativeposition against the abutment.

4:. A folding 'case comprising 'a plurality of spaced shelves, front andrear standards pivoted to the ends of the shelves, the standards at oneside being provided on their inner sides with alined grooves, atransverse partition centrally arranged between an intermediate pair ofthe shelves and hinged to the lower one thereof, said partition normallyextending up to and co-acting with the upper shelf of the said pair toretain the case in its unfolded relation, the partition having alongitudinal groove formed in the upper corner, an abutment for thepartition secured to the upper shelf ofthe said pair, and a detachableshelf slid-ably mounted in the grooves of the partition and standardsfor locking the partition in its operative position againsttheab'ut'ment. o

:5. A folding case comprising a plurality of spaced shelves, front andrear standards pivoted to the ends 'of the shelves, the standards at oneside being provided on their i inner sides with alined grooves, atransverse partit on centrally arranged between an intermediate pair ofthe shelves and hinged to thelower one thereof, said partition normallyextending up to and c0-acting with the upper shelf of the said pair toretain the case in its unfolded relation, the partition havinglongitudinal groove formed in the upper corner, an abutment for thepartition secured to the upperyshelf of the said pair,

and a detachable shelf slidably mounted in the grooves of the partitionand standards for locking the partition in its operative positionagainst the abutment, a strip secured to the'rear edges of the rearstandards between the said intermediate pair of shelves and ei'i'gagingthe upper shelf of the said Zpair, said strip preventing the lateralmovement of the said standards with respect to the shelves, and formin astop for limiting the inward movement of the shelf.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaflixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

V MANLEFF J. WRENN.

Witnesses:

O. F. WELoH, LoUisE CLINARD.

